All posts by Cheryll

Atlatl Journeys!

It has been a busy few weeks here at Thunderbird Atlatl! We had back to back events which kept us on the road too many days in a row but we did have a great time.

Abbe Museum – Maine
We traveled to Maine for a program at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor and had a great time introducing the atlatl during Family Fun Days at Acadia National Park. This was our fifth year in Maine and we always enjoy visiting this beautiful state.

Camp Stone
We showed the atlatl to over 250 campers and others at Camp Stone in western Pennsylvania on Wednesday, July 15. The event was Yom Mizrach HaKadum – Ancient Near East Day! The atlatl demonstrations were among several other demonstrations including a flintknapper, a harpist, archaeology digs, chariot rides (on chariots made by the camp’s Amish neighbors and driven by the those same neighbors), archery, special foods and teas. Check out the link on the event

Waterman Walk Thru Time and Pow Wow
Waterman Conservation Center once again hosted a great event in Apalachin, New York July 18 & 19. A Pow Wow was held in the boat ramp area across from Hiawatha Island and the annual Walk Thru Time event was held on the historic island.

Upcoming Atlatl Events

Here are some upcoming atlatl events from the World Atlatl Association. One of our favorite events is the Atlatl Rattle in Hancock, NY. Check it out if you are in the area (okay we’re a little prejudice because of our ties to Hancock!)

July 22-24

Echoes in Time
Willamette Mission State Park, Salem, Oregon
ISAC and novelty throw
Contact Bob Kitch at (509) 493-1971 or (541) 806-1971

July 23-25

Athens Public Library, Home Street, Athens, Ohio
OAA will provide an oral history of the atlatl on Thursday 7/23 evening. Demonstration and contests all day Friday and Saturday.
ISAC, IASAC, and Ohio Locals.
Contact Ray Strischek, ohioatlatl@hotmail.com for more information.

July 23-26

Atlatl Rattle at Green Flats – Hancock, New York
ISAC, IASAC, and locals. New York Atlatl Association, Inc. events (Individuals, Hunters & European).
NYAA fully insured.
Final Team Championships held on the grounds of Ray Turner’s Casa de Fumo.
For more information contact Gary Fogelman (570) 437-3698, iam@indian-artifacts.net

July 25

Prairie Festival at U.W.C. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Demo, ISAC, ISSAC
Contact Len Riemersma at (920) 528-7454 or lenmaryr@dotnet.co

Pennsic Wars
We will be heading to the Pennsic Wars for ten days! We’ll post news soon. We are still able to handle orders from this location so please give us a call at either 800-836-4520 or the better number to contact from Wednesday, July 29 to Saturday, August 7 is our cell phone at 607-743-4379. There are three atlatl battles planned for this event!

On the Road Again! July Atlatl Events!

Thunderbird Atlatl will be participating in three shows this month. Inbetween trips, we will be at the shop and welcome you to stop by if you are in the area.
July 12
We will be at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, Maine, Sunday, July 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. The program will take place at the Sieu de Monts Spring, at Acadia National Park. For further information contact The Abbe Museum at Phone: (207) 288-3519 or Email: info@abbemuseum.org; Mail: P.O. Box 286, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

July 18 and 19
We will be at the Walk Through Time and Hiawatha Powwow at Hiawatha Island and the Hiawatha Island Boat Dock area on July 18 and 19. The Walk Through Time will take place on Hiawatha Island from 10 AM to 3 PM and the Pow Wow will take place from noon to 6 p.m. on both days. For further information contact the Waterman Conservation Center in Apalachin, New York at http://www.watermancenter.org/pubevnts.htm or call: 607-625-2221.

July 31 to August 7
We will be at the Pennsic Wars just south of Slippery Rock, Pa. Atlatl battles are scheduled for a couple of days during the week. Our shop will be operating from this site for the week.

Other atlatl events in July are as follows:
July 10-12

2009 Annual Meeting of the World Atlatl Association
& State Atlatl Championship
Chelsea Rod & Gun, Chelsea, Michigan
European, 3-D, ISAC, Popinjay
ISAC Only Friday Evening, all contests Saturday and Sunday
$10 range fee
www.michiganatlatl.org/2009_world_atlatl_association_annual_meeting
For more information contact Dan Hovater at hovaterdan@yahoo.com

July 17-19

OAA Flint Ridge Meet
Flint Ridge State Park near Brownsville, Ohio
ISAC, IASAC and Ohio Atlatl Association local events.
Contact: Ray Strischek (ohioatlatl@hotmail.com) 740-593-2365

July 18-19

Smoky Hollow Rendezvous, Cascade, Wisconsin
July 18 – Demo, ISAC, ISSAC, Hunter’s Round
July 19 – ISAC, ISSAC only
Contact Len Riemersma at (920) 528-7454 or lenmaryr@dotnet.com

July 19

Pasadena, California
In conjunction with a monthly Bowmaking/Flintknapping/Atlatl Gathering
ISAC Contest (only) & ; Atlatl & Dart making and throwing clinics
Check the atlatl discussion forums at www.PaleoPlanet.net for further information or contact Tom Mills at (626) 794-9158 or paleoaleo@yahoo.com

July 22-24

Echoes in Time
Willamette Mission State Park, Salem, Oregon
ISAC and novelty throw
Contact Bob Kitch at (509) 493-1971 or (541) 806-1971

July 23-25

Athens Public Library, Home Street, Athens, Ohio
OAA will provide an oral history of the atlatl on Thursday 7/23 evening. Demonstration and contests all day Friday and Saturday.
ISAC, IASAC, and Ohio Locals.
Contact Ray Strischek, ohioatlatl@hotmail.com for more information.

July 23-26

Atlatl Rattle at Green Flats – Hancock, New York
ISAC, IASAC, and locals. New York Atlatl Association, Inc. events (Individuals, Hunters & European).
NYAA fully insured.
Final Team Championships held on the grounds of Ray Turner’s Casa de Fumo.
For more information contact Gary Fogelman (570) 437-3698, iam@indian-artifacts.net

July 25

Prairie Festival at U.W.C. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Demo, ISAC, ISSAC
Contact Len Riemersma at (920) 528-7454 or lenmaryr@dotnet.com

Attend an Atlatl Event in June!

June continues to be a hectic month at Thunderbird Atlatl! Between family graduations, the shop is busy producing more atlatls and darts to meet the ever increasing demand. Check out the upcoming atlatl events.

June 19-21

Annual Meadowcroft Atlatl Event, Avella, Pennsylvania
Local contests and ISACs all 3 days.
Friday starts after 12 noon, 10:00 to 5:00 Sat, 10:00 to 3:30 Sunday.
Contact Margie theatlatl@1st.net or (740) 264-1755

June 21

Texas Atlatl Tournament
Hosted by the Austin Archery Club at Emma Long Park in Austin, Texas
Thirty 3-D targets in the Hill Country, contest fee = $12. 8:30 AM – 1 PM
More information available on-line: http://www.austinarcheryclub.com

June 21

Pasadena, California
In conjunction with a monthly Bowmaking/Flintknapping/Atlatl Gathering
ISAC Contest (only) & ; Atlatl & Dart making and throwing clinics
Check the atlatl discussion forums at www.PaleoPlanet.net for further information or contact Tom Mills at (626) 794-9158 or paleoaleo@yahoo.com

June 25-28

Terry Keefer Memorial Atlatl Tournament, Bald Eagle, Pennsylvania
ISACs, IASAC, hunters Animal Round. Camping on site
A New York Atlatl Association, Inc. sponsored and insured event.
For information contact Tim Jackson PaTeePee@aol.com (814-684-0402)
or Gary Beers 814-687-4372

June 26-27

Kicking Bear at Deerasic Park, Cambridge, Ohio
OAA will provide instruction for 300 kids from 4:00 pm Friday through 4:00 pm Saturday. ISAC, IASAC, and Ohio Locals.
Contact Ray Strischek, ohioatlatl@hotmail.com for more information.

Upcoming Atlatl Events

Summer is just around the corner and the World Atlatl Association Events page has posted a number of atlatl events across the country. The atlatl fishing competition at Letchworth State Park in upstate New York was well attended. Doug Bassett did a great job organizing the event. Here are some other events through the end of June:

June 5-7
Genesee Valley Living History Weekend, Maple Lane RV Park, Cuba, New York
ISAC’s, IASAC, hunters Animal Round, Distance throw, Individuals, Team competition, NYAA Qualifying.
Camping for tents or RV’s with showers/laundry on site.
A New York Atlatl Association, Inc. sponsored and insured event.
For information contact Douglas Bassett 585-493-3625
or Linda Brundage atlatldart1@gmail.com

June 12-14

Atlatl-in-Action
389 Simkin Rd. Elmira, New York
ISAC, IASAC, Hunters Animal Round, Distance throw, Individuals, Team competition, NYAA Qualifying. A New York Atlatl Association, Inc. sponsored and insured event.
Contact: Jack 570-888-8258 rjrowe93@gmail.com or Tom Goble; 607-215-9405

June 13

Platte Ridge County Park
Near Kansas City, Missouri
Atlatl contests, including the ISAC, and demonstrations10:00 am – 4:00 p.m.
Contact: Ron Mertz, devoemertz@sbcglobal.net or 314-628-9376 .

June 13-14

Fort Firelands
Fireland RV Park on Lake Erie, Ohio
ISAC, IASAC and Ohio Atlatl Association local events.
Contact: Ray Strischek (ohioatlatl@hotmail.com) 740-593-2365

June 13-14

Fat Blanket atlatl throw & ISAC. Cheyenne, Wyoming
Open to all, equipment and instruction cheerfully provided.
Sponsored by the Wyoming Atlatl and Social Club.
Contact: Gary/Regina Dodson wyowinds@aol.com (307-632-0766)
or Russell Richard coyoteclown@aol.com (307-772-0550) for location and time.

June 14

Henschals Artifact Museum, New Holstein, Wisconsin
Badger State Artifact Show
9a.m. until 3p.m. Demonstrations, local contests, ISAC.
Contact Lenny Riemersma at 920528-7454 or lenmaryr@dotnet.com

June 19-21

Annual Meadowcroft Atlatl Event, Avella, Pennsylvania
Local contests and ISACs all 3 days.
Friday starts after 12 noon, 10:00 to 5:00 Sat, 10:00 to 3:30 Sunday.
Contact Margie theatlatl@1st.net or (740) 264-1755

June 21

Texas Atlatl Tournament
Hosted by the Austin Archery Club at Emma Long Park in Austin, Texas
Thirty 3-D targets in the Hill Country, contest fee = $12. 8:30 AM – 1 PM
More information available on-line: http://www.austinarcheryclub.com

June 21

Pasadena, California
In conjunction with a monthly Bowmaking/Flintknapping/Atlatl Gathering
ISAC Contest (only) & ; Atlatl & Dart making and throwing clinics
Check the atlatl discussion forums at www.PaleoPlanet.net for further information or contact Tom Mills at (626) 794-9158 or paleoaleo@yahoo.com

June 25-28

Terry Keefer Memorial Atlatl Tournament, Bald Eagle, Pennsylvania
ISACs, IASAC, hunters Animal Round. Camping on site
A New York Atlatl Association, Inc. sponsored and insured event.
For information contact Tim Jackson PaTeePee@aol.com (814-684-0402)
or Gary Beers 814-687-4372

June 26-27

Kicking Bear at Deerasic Park, Cambridge, Ohio
OAA will provide instruction for 300 kids from 4:00 pm Friday through 4:00 pm Saturday. ISAC, IASAC, and Ohio Locals.
Contact Ray Strischek, ohioatlatl@hotmail.com for more information.

Copper Points, Custom Atlatls

The Thunderbird Atlatl shop has been busy this spring creating and working on orders so everyone can get out and enjoy their new atlatl sets!
We are also working on developing a new catalog system but it will take time to set up all the categories and change some of the pictures. For example, the Hiawathas need to be updated to show our primitive designs and hemp cordage work. Here are examples of recent Hiawathas. These designs are $100 per atlatl:
Hiawatha Atlatls recently made in the Thunderbird Atlatl shop
Artisan Bob Berg has been working on recreating copper points. Here are some examples of his recent copper points. They are available for 3 for $20. These copper points look great on our new cane darts available for 3 for $100 with the copper points or $35 each. If you are interested in ordering specialty items or are having problems with the catalog, just give us a call at 800-836-4520 (607-659-3854) or try our cell at 607-743-4379. You can also email us at contact@thunderbirdatlatl.com

Copper Points created by Bob Berg